The Opera Gala: 'An Evening in the Forbidden City'

Executive director Richard Russell and his wife Cynthia with gala chairwoman Rachel Worthington and husband, board chair Don Worthington

The ballroom was decorated with a Chinese pagoda created especially for the event as well as silk lanterns, and centerpieces made from bamboo and orchids designed by Elegant Designs Floral Art Studio.

Each table had a beautiful centerpiece made from bamboo and orchids designed by Elegant Designs Floral Art Studio.

Silk lanterns hung high in the ballroom.

Table setting

Michelle Jaros and Dan Robinson

Chinese fans were on display throughout the lobby and guests were encouraged to take one.

Eleanor and Bruce Ballard

Robert Singer, Myrtle Hylton and Charles Harshbarger

Mary Lou Loughlin and Bob Ploussard

Gail Briley and Frances Vitale

Bill and Annette Lloyd

Annette Lloyd

Louis and Elizabeth Wery with Ellyn Drummond and Scott Bushey

Elizabeth and Louis Wery

Ellyn Drummond and Scott Bushey

Chinese paper fans and a candleholder with the Chinese characters for “good luck”.

Douglas Moppert and Shirley Andrews

Frieda DaGrosa, Mary Zabin and Marina Anderson

Marcia Frankel and Bert Fivelson

Richard Russell and Linda Carson

Hank and Suzanne Foster with Carol and Les Brualdi

Bill and Rebecca Tompkins

Erik and Sandra Lindqvist

Mike and Deanna Creaturo

Michael and Sonia Gibson

Michel and Laurence Monsellier

Laurence Monsellier in a dress designed by David Walker

Wendy and Jerry Feinstein

Jerry and Beathe Elden

Chairwoman Rachael Worthington with co-chairmen Richard Ferrell and Jonathan Coleman

Elissa Soyken in a dress by Jovani

Phil King and Dennis Stover

Tom and Marjie Peter

Lisa and Vincent DiSimone

Herb Kaufman, Emily Varnell, Maija Kaufman and Ray Varnell

Marsha and Dick Johnson

Douglas Crossan and Marilyn Bezner

Martin Martel and Bonny Heet

Tom Jones, Valerie Leatherwood and Larry English

Anna Nekoranec and Bengt Niebuhr

Richard Russell with Molly Schechter and Harold Ronson

David and Jacqueline Morton

John Nigh and Claudia McCorkle with Annette and Bill Lloyd

Amy and George Kane

Judy and Jack Bloch

Stephanie and Josh McCoy

Jeanne Auten and Dr. Sam Fichera

Jennifer and Ken Tarasi

Pam and George Campbell

Natalie and Gerry Radford

Teri Hansen and Joel Fedder

Doug Elliott and Brigitte Ortiz with Rachael and Don Worthington

Norman and Sylvia Samet with Rochelle and George Stassa

Bob and Victoria Kupec with Chip and Ewa Christian

Donna and Craig Hecker

Elena Azuora with her mother Jane Wellard

David Walker, Laurie Smith and Gerry Shaikun

Margaret Word Burnside, Aaron Fodiman and Fay Lazaris

Aaron Fodiman’s bedazzled bowtie